Pattern grading machine



M y 1931'. E. H. BURKE 1507,195

PATTERN GRA ING manna? Original Fileci Jim; '1, 1927 g sheets-$1,691

May 26, 1931. I E QB RKE 5 1,807,195

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Original Filed me '7, 192'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT caries ELMER H. BURKE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PLATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY PATTERN GRADING MACHINE Application filed June 7, 1927, Serial No. 197,116. Renewed October 12, 1928.

This invention relates to pattern grading and is disclosed as embodied in a pattern grading machine for cutting shoe upper patterns of the type shown in United States Letters Patent No. 1,079,022, issued Nov. 18, 1913, on the application of C. E. Reed.

A pattern grading machine of this type contains two pantographs which geometrically magnify the length and width of the model independently. That is, all lines drawn in the model pattern parallel to its length are multiplied by a constant, and all lines drawn 1n it parallel to its width are multiplied by an independent constant. A shoe upper part cut from a pattern so graded from a model pattern will fit. a last graded in the ordinary manner in the last lathe. Such lasts are, however, unsatisfactory because of the intolerable variations in toe spring introduced by the width grader and they have to be bent back to a satisfactory shape by sawing opposite slots and wedging one until the other closes, or by cutting a corrected last directly in a special lathe, such as is shown in United States. Letters Patent No. 1,362,183, issued Dec. 14, 1920, on the application of L. B. YVhipple, or in United States Letters Patent No. 1,362,185, issued Dec. 1 1, 1920, on the application of S. E. Boynton. Such corrected lasts cannot be fitted by uppers graded in the ordinary way, and it has been necessary to improve the pattern grading machine so that I it will in effect bend the model or, in another way of looking at the matter, reproduce from it a bent work-piece. This problem has been treated in UnitedSt-ates Letters Patent No. 1,520,075, issued Dec. 23, 1924, on the application of R. M. Packard.

It is the objectof the present invention to produce a simpler machine than that shown in the patent last mentioned, which will deal adequately with an important class of problems found in the pattern factory, those problems in which the nature of the bend is simple, and in which it is ordinarily necessary to bend the model or work in one locality only and in only one dimension, for example, in length. In the machine described in the Letters Patent referred to both the length and width of the pattern can be bent in any manner whatever, the machine being therefore more complex than is necessary to deal with the simpler class of problems, of which the example mentioned above is one.

As in the operation of the machine set forth in Letters Patent No. 1,520,075, the illustrated embodiment of the present invent-ion accomplishes the bending of the model by shifting it sideways continuously while the model wheel or follower is traversing its periphery, or selected portions of it,'and reference is to bemade to Letters Patent No. 1,520,075 for a detailed treatment of this subject-matten The illustrated machine shifts the model by a novel construction comprising a rotating lever to which a model holder is connected, the lever being rotated by that component of the movement of the model wheel which is perpendicular to the direction of shift of the model holder. The movement of the model holder is approximately proportional to this component, though the ratio of the two is adjustable. It has been found that this degree of flexibility is adequate for the problems comtemplated here.

In accordance with an important feature of the invention the drive of the shifting mechanism is arranged so that it can be put into and out of operation at the will of the operator. In most problems of the type now in consideration, the shifting of the model is necessary only over a selected portion thereof, the other portions being regularly reproduced, and by this feature of the invention the necessity of providing for the continuous control of the shifting holder is avoided. Except when positively driven, the holder will remain fixed.

These and other features of the invention comprising certain combinations and ar- 7 back and forth on guides 1%. A clamp 16 provided to hold the plate 12 in any desired posltlon, though its use has not been found necessary, and a scale and pointer 18, one on the frame and the other on the plate, show or? actly the relation of the frame and plate at any time.

A carriage 20 is mounted to slide on the mainframe on guides 22 at its middle and ends. The carriage 20 has ribs 24, 26 on which the tracer carriage 28, carrying the tracer 30, and the carriage 32 are arranged to roll back and'forth. 'The carriage 20 is provided with a guide 34, carrying a slide 36 on which is pivoted the length grading lever 38. The lever 38 is pivoted to the carriage 28 at 40 and also to a link 12, the end of which is adjustable in a slot 44: in the lever, and the other end of which is pivoted to the carriage 32 at 46. I

A fourth carriage 48, carrying the tool or cutter 50, is mounted to slide on guides 52 on the carriage 32. The width grading lever 5a is pivoted on the carriage 32 at 56 and has a slot 58 in which one end of a link 60 is adjustably pivoted, the other end of the link being pivoted to the cutter carriage 48 at 62. The otherpivot 64 of the width grading lever is mounted in a carriage 66 which slides along a rib 68 which extends the length of the machine, and overhangs the mechanism previously described.

The carriages and grading mechanism so far described are all well known and shown in detail in United States Letters Patent No. 1,079,022, referred to, and their operation is as described in that patent.

Suspended from'the carriage 32 is a horizontal hanger 70 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is slotted to embrace and support a rod 72.

The rod has a bracket 74 bolted on it at each 3 side of the hanger 70, each bracket supportmg roller bearings running along the hanger 70, as shown in Fig. 2. Movement of the carriage 32 and hanger 70 forward and back in Fig. 1 causes the slotted hanger to ride over the rod 7 2 without movin it in an way;

nent of movement of the cutter carriage 4:8 WhlCll slides forward and backward, only, on

the carriage 32, which carries it to the right or left on the carriage 20. The rod 72 could as well be connected directly to the carriage 32.

The rod 72 is conveniently slidably supported elsewhere along its length and terminates in a rack bar 76 which drives a pinion 78 mounted on a bracket 80 bolted to the main frame 10. The pinion 78 drives the pinion 82 through a gear train 84, 86 and the spindle 88. The pinion 82 drives the pinions 90, 92 in opposite directions by means of a suitable idler gear 94, as shown in Fig. 3. The pinion 90 is mounted on ashaft 96 (Fig. 4) which is rotatable in the bracket 80, and above the pinion 90 is a pinion 98 freely rotatable on the shaft 96, and separated from the pinion 90 by friction disks 100. The upper end of pinions 98, 108 both engage a rotary member or pinion 110 mounted on the bracket and carrying an arm 112 formed a segment, in which the end of a link 114 is a'djustably mounted by'means of a pointer or scale 113 and a clamp 116. The other end of the link 114- is pivoted to one end of a lever 118'p-ivot-- ed at 120 on the frame 10, and the other end of the lever 118 is pivoted at 122 to a link 124 which is pivoted to the plate 12.

In operation thepattern 126 is fastened on the plate 12, and a workpiece of cardboard, not shown, is supported under the cutter 50. The operator then runs the tracer 30 around the pattern 126, and the cutter 50 will cut out a graded reproduction of the pattern from the workpiece, the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of which at any locality, as conpared with those of the model, will depend on the settings of the width and length graders, as is well understood. Meanwhile the rod 7 2 is carried lengthwise by the component of the movement of the cutter which is parallel to the length of'the rod, and drives the gears 90, 92 in opposite directions. If the nuts 102, 106 are both loose the reproduction is of the well-known and ordinary type, exactly the same as that described in the Reed patent referred to, but if one of the nuts is screwed down, its related gear 98 or 108 will ClIlXQ the pinion 110 in one direction or the other, turnng the segment112 which, unless the link 114 is adjusted on its center, will shift the plate 12 with the model, continuously in a direction transverse to the bar 72.

Calling that dimension of the model parallel to the bar 72 its length and the transverse dimension its width, the model is thus progressively shifted sideways by an amount which is a function of the longitudinal position of the tracer upon it (the tracer'being definitely related to the cutter carriage, which actually does the driving of the rod 72, by means of the grading mechanism). The effective shape of the model is therefore changed for reproduction purposes. Its length can be regarded as bent. Or, from another point of View, the model may be regarded as divided into a series of lines all perpendicular to the bar 72 and these lines may be regarded as slid along on their neighbors in a direction perpendicular to the bar 72, to distort the model, the grading being regarded as done from this distorted model.

As an illustrative example, consider the question of grading an upper pattern to lit a last having a corrected toe spring. Suppose the 4B model last has been graded up to 613 by the ordinary last lathe. Its toe spring will be too great, owing to the fact that its ball portion has been dropped absolutely farther from its axis of rotation by the pantographic width grader than any other point in its bottom. This dificulty, as suggested above, can be corrected by bending the last itself by slotting and wedging it, or a last with corrected toe spring can be produced directly in such machines as shown in United States Letters Patents No. 1,362,183, and No. 1,362,185, mentioned above.

If an upper pattern is made to fit the 4B model, a 6B graded from it in the ordinary pattern grading machine will fit the ordinarily graded 6B last, but will not fit the corrected 6B last at all. The corrected last has its ball higher relatively to the toe and heel, than the uncorrected last, and the ordinary 6B upper, if placed on it, will have to be distorted so that it is too tight along the top of the foot and too loose along the bottom.

The illustrated machine enables the operator to cut a corrected 6B upper pattern which will fit the corrected 6B last. This may be done in several ways. The drawing shows a quarter with its heel to the left, and bottom toward the top of the drawing. If the corrected 6B pattern is to be graded from this, its right or instep end (Fig. 1) must be raised (moved toward the operator) or its left or heel end lowered (moved away from the operator), relatively to the other ends respectively. This in effect bends the 4B pattern quarter to correspond to the bend introduced into the graded 6B last.

The operator can carry out the operation as follows: Leaving both handles 102, 106 loose he will run the tracer from the right end of the pattern along its bottom edge, to the left; and the machine will reproduce in the ordinary way. lVhen he has reached the proper point at which he desires to begin the bend he will tighten the handle which will connect the gearing so as to drive the plate 12 away from the operator. This in effect bends the bottom edge of the left or rear end of the pattern quarter away from the operator as the tracer moves out to its left end. As the tracer returns along the side next to the operator the plate 12 is gradually returned to its standard position,which in effect'bends the upper edge of the rear end of the pattern quarter away from the operator, and the handle 102 or 106 is loosened when the tracer is opposite its original starting point.

It is not necessary that the link 114 be adjustable to both sides of the center of the segment 112. The segment'shown is exactly like the grader segments 38, 541 and was used because convenient,but only half of it is necessary. With the adjustment shown in Fig. 3 the tightening of the handle 102 will move the plate 12 away from the operator as the tracer moves to the left.

The above example is only illustrative. In some cases it is advisable to shift the plate 12 in one'direction and back again as the tracer passes from one the other, which is done by tightening one handle, then loosening it and tightening the other, the procedure being reversed as the tracer goes back on the other side.

The required settings of the scale 113 are largely empirical.

It is of course not vital that the model be the shifted element. The pattern grading machine comprises four primary instrumentalities, viz., model holder, work holder, model follower and tool, and the whole matter of reproduction in such machines is merely a matter of the relative movement of the four instrumentalities. Obviously, for example. the model holder and the work v the model follower and the tool, could be interchanged without essentially altering even the herein-disclosed embodiment of the invention.

It may be remarked that the chain of driving mechanism running through the bar 72 and the gearing to the link 124 is operable in either direction, that is, movement of the bar 72 in either direction will operate it, and by end of the pattern to holder, and

means of the engaging mechanisms or clutches at 102, 106 movement of the bar 72 in either direction can be transformed into movement of the plate 12 in either direction. This enables the machine to work irrespective of which way the production of a work piece is proceeding along the periphery of the work, so that the model follower and toolcan travel continuously around the peripheries of the model and work as is customary in pattern grading machines. In the claims this driving mechanism has been called, in some cases, a two-way driving mechanism, for the sake of brevity. It has also been stated in some of I the claims that the plate 12 is driven by the relative movement of two of the primary instrumentalities in either direction, by which is meant that the driving mechanism operates irrespective of the direction (or its opposite) in which the two relatively moving instrumentalities are actually moving; (to the right or left in Fig. 1).

'Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, viz., a model holder, a work holder, a model follower and a tool and grading connections between them arranged to reproduce a plane model held in the model holder in a plane workpiece held in the work holder, and means for shifting one of the said primary instrumentalities in a certain direction parallel to the plane of the connecting the rack bar to reproduction, said means being operated by relative movement of two of said primary instrumentalities in a direction transverse to said certain direction and comprising a rack bar connected to one of the said twoprimary instrumentalities, a pivoted arm, gearing the arm, and means for adjustably connecting the pivoted arm to the primary instrumentality which is to be shifted.

2. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, viz., a model holder, a work holder, a model follower and a tool and grading connections between them arranged to reproduce a plane model held in the model holder in a plane workpiece held in the work holder, and means for shifting one of the said instrumentalities in a certain direction parallel to the plane of reproduction,

said means being operated by relative movement of the tool and work in a direction transverse to said certain direction and comprising a two-way driving mechanism, and means for engaging and disengaging the driving mechanism at will during a reproducing oporation.

3. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, viz., a model holder, a model follower, and a work holder and a tool arranged for plane relative movements in pairs, and mechanism connected with them constructed and arranged to reproduce a'plane model held in the model holderin a plane workpiece held in the work holder, the said mechanism comprising means, operated by relative reproductional movement of two of said instrumentalities in a certain direction, and also in the opposite direction, for eiiecting a reprodnctional movement of one of the said four instrumentalities in a direction transverse to the said certain dircction, said means including a driving mechanism and controlling means operable by the operator at will to cause the driving mechanism to move the'last-men'tioned instrumentality positively or negatively in the said transverse direction as desired, and at any desired time during the reproduction. of a workpiece.

4. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, namely, a model holder, a work holder, a model wheel and a tool and grading connections between them arranged to reproduce a plane model held in the model holder in a plane workpiece held in the work holder, and means for shifting one of the said primary instrumentalities in a certain direction parallel to the plane of reproduction, said means being operated by relative movement of two of the said instrumentalities in either, at will, oi two directions transverse to the said certain direction and comprising a train of mechanism operated by the said relative movement and connected to the shifting holder, said mechanism comprising clutch mechanism for causing the mechanism to shift the shifting primary instrumentality in either direction at will during relative movement in either of the said two directions, and said clutch mechanism being engageable or disengageable at will at any time during the reproduction.

5. In a pattern grading machine, our primary instrumentalities, namely, a model holder, a work holder, a model wheel and a tool and grading connections between them, arranged to reproduce a planemodel held in the model 'holder in a plane workpiece held in the work holder, and means for shitting one of the said primary instrumentalities in a certain direction parallel to the plane of reproduction, said means being operated by relative movement of two of the said instrumentalities transverse to the said certain clirection, and comprising a train of gearing operated by the said relative movement and connected to the shifting primary instrumentality, an arm carried on a rotary member of said gearing, and swinging with the member as it turns, anadjustable connection between said arm and the shifting primary instrumentality, and a clutch mechanism between the said rotary member and the remainder of the train of gearing, arranged to connect or disconnect the said rotary member from the train whenever actuated by the operator and to drive the said rotary member in either direction, at will, when connected.

6. In a pattern grading machine four primary instrumentalities, namely, a model holder, a work holder, a tool, interconnected and arranged to reproduce a model held in the model holder in a workpiece held in the work holder, and means for effecting a reproduetional shifting movement of one of the instrumentalities in a certain direction, said means being operated by relative movement of two of the said instrumentalities transverse to the said certain direction comprising a driving mechaa model wheel and Inn Ill)

nism constructed and arranged to operate in both of two opposed directions, and manually operable means to cause the driving mechanism to shift the shifting instrumentality in either the first-named or its opposite direction as desired, and at any time during the reproduction, irrespective of the direction in which the driving mechanism is driv- 3. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, namely a model holder, a work holder, a model wheel and a tool, interconnected and arranged to reproduce a model held in the model holder in a workpiece held in the work holder, and means for effecting a reproductional shifting movement of one of the said instrumentalities in a certain direction, said means being operated by relative movement of two of the said instrumentalities transverse to the said certain direction, and comprising a train of mechanism operable in either of two opposed directions by the said relative movement and connected to the shifting'instrumentality, said mechanism including a rotary member adproduce a model held in the model holder in a workpiece held in the work holder, and means for effecting a reproductional shifting movement of one of the said instrumentalities in a certain direction, said means'being operated by relative movement of two of the said instrumentalities transverse to thesaid certain direction, and comprising a train of gearing operated by the said relative movement and connected to the shifting'instrumentality, said gearing comprising two engaging mechanisms arranged to dr ve the shifting instrumentality in opposite directions respectively, said engaging mechanisms being engageable or disengageable at any time at the will of the operator.

9. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, namely, a model holder, a work holder, a model wheel and a tool, interconnected and arranged to reproduce a model held in the model holder in a workpiece held in the work holder, and means for effecting a reproductional shifting move ment of one of the primary instrumentalities in a certain direction, said means being operated by relative movement of two of the said instrumentalities transverse to the said certain direction, and comprising a train of gearing operated by the said relative movement and connected to the shifting primary instrumentality, said gearing comprising a rotary pinion connected with the shifting holder, two pinions arranged to be driven in opposite directions by the said relative movement, and means for connecting either of the second-mentioned pinions with the first-mentioned pinion at will comprising two pinions mounted coaxially' respectively with the two second-mentioned pinions and meshing with the first-named pinion, and means for clamping1 either two coaxial pinions together at W1 10. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, viz., a model holder, a Work holder, a model follower and a tool, interconnected and arranged to reproduce a model held in the holder in a workpiece held in the work holder, means for shifting one of the said instrumentalities in a certain fixed direction, said means being operated by relative movement of two of the said primary instrumentalities in either of two opposed directions transverse to said certain direction, and mechanisms whereby the operator may set said means into or out of operation at any time during a reproducing operation, during relative movement in the two opposed directions. respectively.

11. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, viz., a model holder, a model follower, a work holder, and a tool, connections between them arranged to reproduce a model held in the model holder in a work piece held in the work holder, means for shifting one of said instrumentalities in a certain fixed direction, said shifting movement being additional to the normal reproductive movement of the shifted instrumentality characteristic of the machine, mechanism for operating said shifting means driven by relative movement between two of said primary instrumentalities in a direction perpendicular to the said certain direction,

and driven reversely when the direction in which the said two relatively moving primary instrumentalities are actually moving is reversed,and means whereby the operator of the machine may set said shifting means into or out of operation at any time during a reproducing operation. a p

12. In a pattern grading machine, four primary t instrumentalities, namely, a model mentalities in a direction transverse to the said certain direction, and comprising a'pivotedarm, the pivot of which is arranged to iment of which causes thesaid shifting, an ad 1ustab-le connection between the pivoted arm and the shifted instrumentality, whereby the pivoted arm shifts the shifted instrumentality as it swings, and a positive driving reconnection between the pivoted arm and the other of those two primary instrumentalities the relative movement of which causes the shifting, for swinging the pivoted arm, and means for setting the driving connection 7. into and out of operation at any time during 15" the production of aworkpiece.

13. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, namely, a model holder, a workholder, a model wheel anda tOol, and grading mechanism connecting them arranged to reproduce a model held in the model holder in a workpiece held in thework holder, and means for shifting one of the instrumentalities in a certain fixed direction iiidependently of the normal grading action characteristic of the machine, said means being operated by relative movement of that instrumentality and another of the said instrumentalities while said two relatively moving instrumentalities move in either of two opposed directions transverse to the said certain direction, and comprising a pivoted arm, the pivot of which is arranged to have no movement in the said transverse direction relatively to one of those twoprimary instrumentalities the relative movement of which causes the said shifting, an adj ustable' connection between thepivoted arm and the shifted instrumentality, whereby the pivoted arm shifts the shifted instrumentality as it swings,

a driving connection between the pivoted arm and the other of those two primary instrumentalities the relative movement of which causes the shifting, for swinging the pivoted arm, and means for setting the driving connection into and out of operation at any time during the'production of a workpiece, to drive the pivoted arm in either direction irrespective of the direction of movement of said two relatively moving primary instrn-- mentalities.

14. Ina pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, namely, a model holder, a work holder, a model wheel and a tool, and grading mechanism connecting them arranged to reproduce a model held in the model holder in a workpiece held in the 'workholder, and means for shifting one of the said lnstrumentalities in a certain direction independently of the normal grading ac tion characteristic of the machine, said means being operated by relative movement of two of the said instrumentalities as they move in either of two opposed directions transverse to the said certain direction, and comprising a rotary member adjustably connected to the L e-oh 55 15. Ina pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, viz., a model holder, a work holder, a model follower and a tool, and grading mechanism connecting them arranged to reproduce a model heldin the model holderin a workpiece held in the work holder, and means for shifting one of the said instrumentalities in acertain direction independently of the normal grading actioncharacteristic ofthe machine, said means being operated ancillary to movement of the model follower in either of two op posed directions transverse to saidcertain direction and comprising a driving mechanism, operable in two opposed directions, either of which may be coordinated with either 'of' said two opposite directions of rela tive movement, and means for engaging and disengaging the driving mechanism at will during reproducing operation;

ing operated ancillary to the movement of" the model wheel along the model in a direction transverse to the said certain direction and comprising a train of mechanism operableforwardly or backwardly and by the said movement of the model wheel and connected to the shifting instrumentality, saidmechanism being operatively engageable or disengageable at will at any time during the reproduction. 7

17. In a pattern grading machine, four primary instrumentalities, namely, a model holder, a work holder, a model wheel and a tool and grading mechanism connecting them arranged to reproduce a model held in the model holder in a workpiece held in the work holder, and means for shifting one of the instrumentalities in a certain direction independently of the normal grading action characteristic of'the" machine, said means being operated ancillary to movement of one of the saidinstrumentalities in both of two opposed directions transverse to the said certain direction, and comprising a train of mechanism operated by the said relative movement and connected to the shifting in strumentality, said'mechanism comprising a rotary member, an arm carried on the rotary member and swinging with the rotary member as it turns, an adjustable connection be a" 16.In a pattern grading machine, fouriz o tween said arm and the shifting instrumentality, and a clutch mechanism between the said rotary member and the remainder of the mechanism, arranged to connect or disconnect the said rotary member from the train Whenever actuated by the operator and to drive the said rotary member when connected, irrespective of the direction of the said relative movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ELMER H. BURKE. 

